title: Clot length distribution and predictors in anterior circulation stroke: implications for intra-arterial therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thin-section noncontrast computed tomography images can be used to measure hyperdense clot length in acute ischemic stroke. Clots≥8 mm have a very low probability of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator recanalization and hence may benefit from a bridging intra-arterial approach. To understand the prevalence of such clots, we sought to determine the distribution and predictors of clot lengths in consecutive anterior circulation proximal artery occlusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 623 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke, 53 met inclusion criteria: presentation<8 hours from onset; intracranial internal carotid artery-terminus or proximal-middle cerebral artery occlusion; admission thin-slice noncontrast computed tomography (≤2.5 mm); and no intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator pretreatment. For each patient, hyperdense clot length was measured and recorded along with additional relevant imaging and clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 70 years, and mean time to computed tomography was 213 minutes. Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 16.5. Occlusions were located in the internal carotid artery-terminus (34% [18 of 53]), middle cerebral artery M1 (49% [26 of 53]) and M2 segments (17% [9 of 53]). Hyperdense thrombus was visible in 96%, with mean and median clot lengths (mm) of 18.5 (±14.2) and 16.1 (7.6-25.2), respectively. Occlusion location was the strongest predictor of clot length (multivariate, P=0.02). Clot length was ≥8 mm in 94%, 73%, and 22% of internal carotid artery-terminus, M1, and M2 occlusions, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of anterior circulation proximal occlusions are ≥8 mm long, helping to explain the low published rates of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator recanalization. Internal carotid artery-terminus occlusion is an excellent marker for clot length≥8 mm; vessel-imaging status alone may be sufficient. Thin-section noncontrast computed tomography seems useful for patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion because of the wide variability of clot lengths.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (S.K., L.T.M., S.R.P., J.A.H., M.H.L., A.J.Y.); and Penumbra, Inc, Alameda, CA (M.A., S.P.S., A.B.).
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamalian
authors.forename: Livia T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Stuart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aceves
authors.forename: Siu Po
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sit
authors.forename: Arani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lev
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: IV-tPA; clot-length; hyperdense MCA; intra-arterial therapy; stroke